The High-Level's Wager

From Year 23 to Year 25 of Hidden Leaf Village, the position of Uchiha Clan Head changed hands incessantly. Every year, countless talented individuals fell.

Unexpectedly, the village had maintained a wait-and-see attitude toward the matter.

The Third Hokage had once made his stance clear: the high-level could not easily interfere in the Uchiha Clan's affairs. Rash intervention could easily backfire, isolating and alienating the Uchiha Clan. Therefore, such matters could only be resolved by the Uchiha themselves.

At this moment, within the Uchiha Clan Territory, the newly appointed Clan Head stared sinisterly at Uchiha Chiri. His mismatched red and white eyes harbored a deep darkness, as if they wanted to devour the person before him whole.

He had only recently taken office. If anyone in the clan territory was qualified to challenge him, this sixteen-year-old girl was the most likely candidate!

She had displayed exceptional talent since childhood. The moment she graduated, she already possessed the strength of a Jonin. Rumor had it that her Sharingan had reached the Three-Tomoe Sharingan stage. Combined with her four years of service in the Police Force, she possessed both strength and prestige.

Moreover, due to her outstanding abilities, she had been exceptionally promoted to Military Police Force Captain this month. Even he, the Clan Head, had grown covetous of the position.

This Hell Valley Mission had been a trap laid specifically for her. If he could use this opportunity to weaken her and exclude her from the competition, that would naturally be ideal. At worst, he could send her away and buy time to consolidate his own power.

Thus, in the face of Zhi Li's reasoned arguments, he put on a completely tyrannical and arbitrary front, refusing to withdraw his order.

Zhi Li looked directly into the Clan Head's eyes. After a long while, deep disappointment flashed through her gaze.

Soon, the moment the Clan Head had most anticipated arrived. To prevent Tong Ren from being harmed, Zhi Li decisively resigned from her post as Military Police Force Captain and accompanied Tong Ren to Hell Valley.

"Sister Zhi Li, is this really okay?"

Tong Ren asked hesitantly. He was deeply upset because he had dragged his sister into this.

"I only have one younger brother, and compared to you, it doesn't matter what I lose." Zhi Li rubbed her younger brother's head, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly as she revealed a doting smile.

Orochimaru and Uchiha Nen exchanged glances. After confirming each other's intentions, they stepped forward together.

"We're going too!"

"Huh? What kind of joke is this?" Tong Ren's brows shot up as he immediately refused. "I've already felt terrible for dragging my sister into this. If I drag you two in as well... what kind of friend would I be?"

"By the same logic, if we watched you sink into the mud and did nothing, we wouldn't be friends either." Orochimaru spread his hands.

Uchiha Nen stood with his hands behind his back, looking like a little adult. "That makes sense. Besides, if you don't believe in our strength, don't you believe in Sister Zhi Li's strength?"

"Th-This..."

Orochimaru patted Tong Ren on the shoulder. "Don't worry. It's just a scouting mission. The more people we have, the more we can look out for one another."

"Sister, help me talk them out of it!" Tong Ren said anxiously.

Zhi Li silently glanced at Orochimaru. After pondering for a moment, she said softly, "Since this is the decision of your closest friends, you shouldn't reject them if you wish to honor their resolve."

"But..."

"Don't worry. Your sister will protect all of you." Zhi Li smiled gently.

With everyone insisting, Tong Ren ultimately could not change their minds. The four of them formed a team. To prevent the Clan Head's faction from intervening, Zhi Li submitted the mission application to the Hokage Building in advance, and it successfully received the Hokage's approval.

On the day of their departure, the situation took an unexpected turn.

"Jiraiya? Tsunade?" Orochimaru frowned slightly. "What is the meaning of this?"

The four looked at Jiraiya and Tsunade, who had already been waiting at the village entrance, and fell into confusion.

"Teacher is very concerned about the Chinoike Clan in Hell Valley. Besides, he was worried that you couldn't handle it alone, so he sent the two of us to assist."

Jiraiya held a transfer order between his fingertips and coolly waved it around.

"The three of us in Team 7 need to improve our coordination and gain some practical combat experience. This is a good opportunity. Besides, Zhi Li is a ninja worthy of trust. I'm perfectly at ease with her serving as the team leader."

Tsunade tossed her hair. "Those were Teacher Sarutobi's exact words."

Zhi Li accepted the transfer order and carefully read it over. Then, a slightly seductive smile curled her lips.

As intelligent as she was, she had already figured out the reasons behind it.

What was Orochimaru's status? Setting aside the fact that he was Tong Ren's close friend, he was currently Lord Hokage's direct disciple.

Not only had Lord Hokage rejected her resignation letter, he had even approved her proposal to leave the village and sent two more disciples to accompany them. This showed that the village had not completely washed its hands of the Uchiha Clan's current situation.

The presence of the three members of Team 7 was equivalent to giving Zhi Li an extra safeguard. This was already a subtle form of intervention.

The incident had occurred suddenly. This Uchiha Clan Head had abruptly issued an external mission assignment, and even passersby could see his intentions. It was clearly a trap aimed at Uchiha Chiri.

Even so, the Third Hokage had still sent his direct disciples out to accompany Chiri and the others, all to prevent the Uchiha from resorting to murder. No matter how mad they were, they would not dare rashly lay hands on members of the Hokage's lineage.

This was a warning to the other side not to go too far. No matter how they fought within the village, they were not to involve matters outside it.

Zhi Li could even believe that, to some extent, the Hokage had already chosen where to place his wager.

At that thought, she smiled faintly and nodded. "Welcome, you two. Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Uchiha Chiri. I am still the Military Police Force Captain of Hidden Leaf Village. I hope we work well together."

Jiraiya smoothed his hair back, grinned, and held out his hand to Chiri. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jiraiya. You can give me the love letters later."

Before Chiri could shake his hand, Orochimaru silently grabbed Jiraiya by the collar and pulled him away.

"Tch." Jiraiya was somewhat dissatisfied. Turning his head, he saw a row of warning looks from Orochimaru, Tong Ren, and Uchiha Nen at the far right.

Those gazes were icy, as though they wanted to cut him into eight pieces.

He sheepishly shrank his neck, recalling some rather unpleasant memories.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Tsunade. I like tender chicken and shochu, and I hate sweets. Don't let the fact that I'm a girl fool you—I'm a medical ninja!"

"Hello, Xiao Gang. I've heard all about you." Chiri took Tsunade's hand and smiled gently.

"Mm! This sister didn't call me 'Princess' like everyone else!" Tsunade said in surprise, enthusiastically hugging Chiri's slender waist. "I like this sister."

Chiri stroked Tsunade's head and pressed the little girl's face into her chest. "Oh my, I like you too. Did you know? You and Tong Ren were actually born on the same day..."

And so, the scouting team led by Jonin Uchiha Chiri, consisting of Genin Uchiha Kirito, the young Three Ninja, and Uchiha Nen, whose strength was unknown, set off on the road to Hell Valley.